This blog started off by focussing on NZ's smaller 3rd level airlines, past and present. It has evolved to trying to present some record of NZ's domestic airline operations and some of the larger charter operators, interesting NZ international airliner movements and photos I have taken around the country. Comments, corrections or contributions are welcome, Steve - westland831@gmail.com

In January 1973
Akarana wrote to the Air Services Licensing Authority advising their intention
to start an air taxi service from Auckland to Tokoroa. Planning continued and
by early 1974 the Matamata County had permitted them to the use of the airfield
at Tokoroa. Permission to land at Tokoroa was, however, withheld by the
licensee, New Zealand Forest Products Ltd, as it was felt by the licensee that
granting permission to Akarana Air to start an air taxi service would
jeopardise negotiations taking place over the sale of the property to the
Matamata County.

While NZ Forest Products were operating flights
in their own aircraft for their staff there was no service available for the
general public. Finally, all the obstacles were overcome and on the 6th of
April 1976 the South Waikato News carried a brief article that said, “A public
air service between Tokoroa and Auckland will commence tomorrow morning. The
company organising the flights, Akarana Air Ltd., will operate a daily service.
A five passenger, twin engine plane will be used for the service a company
spokesman said.”

South Waikato New 8 April 1976

Akarana Air Timetable - June 1976

The air taxi service, which started on
the 7th of April 1976 enabled Akarana to test the viability of a
scheduled service without applying for a licence. The results were not
promising and a scheduled service never came to fruition, the air taxi
operation being short-lived and so there was no objection in July 1976, to Air
North being granted approval to have Tokoroa as a stopping place on its
Rotorua-Auckland scheduled service.